In Memoriam: David T. Stonington (October 4, 1944 - May 23, 2025)
David T. Stonington, a devoted family physician, passionate adventurer, and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2025 at the age of 80.
Born in New York City on October 4, 1944, to Oliver Gordon Stonington and Catherine Livingston Davis, David grew up in Denver, Colorado with brothers and sisters - Gordo, Emily, Pete, and Jani.
David attended Colorado Academy in Denver, then Middlebury College in Vermont. There he served as class president and led a contingent of students to the 1965 Selma to Montgomery civil rights march, one of numerous quiet but courageous stands he took over the course of his life. He graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1970, did a medical internship at Oregon Health Sciences University and then served in the Indian Health Service in Sitka, Alaska.
In 1974, David began a career as a family physician with Group Health Cooperative (now Kaiser Permanente) in Seattle, Washington. He was known for his calm presence, deep kindness, and unwavering dedication to his patients and colleagues. In addition to his practice, David's interest in quality of care led him to teach medical students, to conduct audits of university and tribal medical clinics, and to volunteer with a community clinic. In 2006, Group Health Cooperative honored David with the Ward C. Miles Award for Clinical Excellence.
David met Louise Seeley at the Denver airport, waiting to board a flight to Seattle. They married in 1977 and raised two sons, Daniel and Joel.
Throughout his life, David loved the great outdoors, sports, friends and family. He played tennis and golf regularly. He kayaked and swam the rivers, bicycled trails, and walked the beaches of the Pacific Northwest. He joined backcountry ski trips, hikes, and climbs, including a few first ascents in the North Cascades. He organized family reunions in the Rockies. And he took his family around the world, working as ship doctor, 'Dr Dave,' for Semester at Sea.
In retirement, he joined the ski patrol for Mount Tahoma Trails Association (MTTA,) a hut to hut trail system in the foothills of Mount Rainier. David liked maps and created an informative one for MTTA skiers, snowshoers, and hikers. He and Louise enjoyed participating with organizations protecting the environment and social justice.
David lived in the same home in Seattle for 50 years - a place of constancy, laughter, and love. In his last four years, David suffered from primary progressive aphasia. His friends and neighbors were wonderfully helpful in helping him navigate changes in his abilities.
David is survived by his wife of 48 years, Louise Stonington; his sons and their wives: Dan Stonington (Hannah Yourd) and Joel Stonington (Dalia Mortada); his grandsons, Luca Stonington and Zayn Stonington; his siblings and their wives: Gordo Stonington (Liz), Peter Stonington (Mary), and Jani Stonington (Kathy Valentine); and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister Emily Hibbard (Chase).
Seattle Times Obituary can be found here
A celebration in his honor will be planned for this summer
